Closure for bags and the like



Sept. 4, 1934.- w. CASE 1,972,130

CLOSURE FOR BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1952 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STA CLOSURE FOR BAGS AND THE LIKE William Case, St. Louis, Mo'., a'ssignor to Bemis- Bro. Bag 00., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 29, 1932, Serial No. 635,315

2 Claim.

This invention relates to closures, and with regard to certain more specific features, to a method of filling and closing bags and the like. Among the several objects of the invention may 5 be noted the provision of a method of filling and closing bags, particularliacloth bags and the like which is readily accomplished, and which provides a bag that may be quickly and effectively closed and opened; the provision of a method of closing bags wherein theclosure is strong, water tight and sift proof; and the provision of a meth- JQ which results in an article of the class described which is an improvement upon the article shown in Patent 1,853,013 of April 5, 1932. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combination of elements, steps and sequence of steps, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention, i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bag opened at a corner to' show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a com- Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the application of a closure strip after withdrawal of the filling tube; and,

Fig. 4 shows the bag of Fig. 3 closed and inverted.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the,.several views of the drawing.

In said Patent 1,853,013 of April 5, 1932, there was disclosed a fastening adapted among other uses to be used for closing bag bottoms and bag mouths. The details of this fastening are set out in said patent, but for the present purpose, it may be said to comprise strips 1 and 3 (Fig. 1) folded to enclose the otherwise opened ends of a length of bag tubing 5. It will be understood that the tubing 5 is closed longitudinally at a suitable seam '7. I intend that the seam '7 shall be of the lap type wherein adhesive is used between laps, as disclosed in said patent. It will be understood, however, that other side seams may be used and otherwise positioned.

The strips 1 and 3 are intended to be adhered to the ends of the tubing 5 by means of an adhesive such as latex. The strips 1 and 3 are popleted bag closure and a filling tube in position;

sitioned prior to filling the bag. In Fig. 1 the lower strip 3 is completely fastened; whereas the upper strip is shown as partially fastened, the corner of the bag being laid open for purposes of illustration. The strips extend beyond the bag edges and opposite faces thereof are adhered by means of said adhesive to form ears 2.

The improvementdescribed herein, comprises the proyision of a slit 9 in the upper applied strip 1, whi slit is to be placed at the mouth of bag. Thus when this strip is positioned on the bag, the slit 9 is at the upper end of the bag and is adapted to receive a filling tube 11 or the like for the purposes of filling.

After the bag has been filled, the slit is covered by means of a short cover strip 13 to which an adhesive such as latex 15 has beenapplied. The strip 13 is then rolled down'exteriorly on, but reacting against the contents of the bag, this being done by means of a roller or the like 17. Thus the cover piece 13 is adhered to the strip 1.

It will be clear that the adhesive latex may also be applied to the outside of the closure strip 1, or it may be applied thereto without application to the cover 13. The cover 13 may be of any suitably strong material for the purpose, such as fabric.

' After the cover 13 has been rolled against the closure strip 1, as shown in Fig. 3, the bag may be inverted as shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the contents thereof apply further pressure to the joint between the cover and the strip. Thus the final closure dries under conditions'of pressure to form a strong joint.

It will be understood that a strong enough to closure will be effected under most conditions merely by rolling it down, permitting the bag to remain upright. It will be also understood that the cover 13 may be applied to the strip 1 without using a roller or similar pressing tool; and by subsequently inverting the bag all of the pressure is obtained that is necessary for holding the parts together until they dry and adhere permanently.

It is to be understood that the strip 1 may be provided with the slit or equivalent before or after it is applied to the bag and that it may be positioned centrally or near one side or the other of the bags. Furthermore, the closure strip 13 may either be originally flat or itself folded or crimped to engage the fold in the strip 1. For instance, if the bag were not to be completely filled, it might be desirable to-have the cover 13 also folded to form an angle adapted to receive the then angular cover strip 1. Lastly may apply the strip 1.

Among the advantages of the invention is the fact that the original manufacturer of the bag may apply the advantageous folded cover strip I 1, as he does the bottom strip 3, and therefore secure the strongest attachments of which the combination is capable. He may slit and fasten it. There is thus left for the bag' user (filler) only the operation of filling and the relatively simple operation of applying the short cover 13 requiring no special machinery in order. to effect the best possible results.

Furthermore, when roughly handled the tendency of the material within the bag is merely to tend to spread apart the opposite sides of the slit 9 and thus exert a shearing action between the adjacent surfaces and the strip 1 and cover 13. This action is readily resisted by the structure. However, if it is desired to reopen the bag, it is a. relatively simple matter to obtain a purchase on one comer of the cover 13 and'by the exertion of a reasonable force rip the same from the strip 1. In this event tension forces are brought into play between the juxtaposed surfaces. These forces are much more easily overcome than the relatively large area of shear forces which the contents of the bag must overcome in order to leak out.

Thus there is formed a tight closure but one which may be easily opened by the ultimate user of the contents of the bag.

The fact that the opening 9 is in the form of a. slit results in the contents of the bag being protected against any substantial contact with the adhesive between the cover 13 and the strip 1 while the adhesive is wet. It also prevents direct bursting pressure of the material on the cover such as would tend to press the cover away from the strip 1.

Other advantages are clear from the above, such as the ease of application of the closure, as well as its economy.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above methods and constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: i

1. A method of filling and closing bags comprising adhering a folded closure strip to the juxtaposed two edges of the mouth of the bag,

the strip having formed therein a slit along the fold thereof, filling the bag through said slit, to such an extent that the strip is substantially unfolded adhering a cover over said slit and pressing the cover against the folded strip by engendering a reaction between the cover and the.

contents of the bag.

2. A method of filling and closing bags comprising adhering a closure strip to the mouth of the bag, the strip having formed therein a slit, filling the bag through said slit, adhering a cover over said slit and pressing the cover against the strip by engendering a reaction between the cover and the contents of the bag, said lastnamed step being performed at least in part by upsetting the bag.

WILLIAM CASE. 

